10:07 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will convene for pro forma sessions on the following dates and times:
- Friday, December 19th at 11:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, December 23rd at 8:30 a.m.
- Friday, December 26th at 1:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 30th at 11:00 a.m.
- Friday, January 2nd at 3:00 p.m.
- Saturday, January 3rd at 12:00 noon
When the Senate adjourns on January 3rd, it will next convene at 3:00 p.m. on Monday January 5th.
Following Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of Morning Business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each.
At approximately 5:30 p.m., the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Keith Bass to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
During wrap-up:
- Executive Calendar #592 Adm. Kevin E. Lunday to be Admiral (Coast Guard); confirmed by unanimous consent.
- The only nominations received by the Senate during the 119th Congress, first session, to remain in status quo are the following:
- Exec. Cal. #s 241, 503
- PN #s: 415, 446, 587, 588, 593, 595, 620, 621, 622, 658, 675, 676, 677, 680, 681, 682, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 690, 691, 696, 697, 698, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710, 711, 712-1, 712-2, 713, 714, 715-1, 715-2, 716, 717, 718, 719, 720
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10:01 p.m. Majority Leader Thune spoke about appropriations.
10:01 p.m. By a vote of 51-42, the Senate invoked cloture on Sara Bailey to be Director of National Drug Control Policy.
- Republican Senator Paul voted No.
- Senators not voting: booker, Curtis, Durbin, Kelly, Smith, Warren, & Whitehouse.
9:43 p.m. By a vote of 60-35, cloture was invoked on the nomination of Alexander C. Van Hook to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.
- Democrats/Independent Senators voting in favor: Coons, Hassan, Kaine, King (I), Klobuchar, Shaheen, and Welch.
- Senators not voting: Booker, Durbin, Smith, Warnock, and Warren.
9:24 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Alexander C. Van Hook to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.
9:23 p.m. By a vote of 58-36, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Keith Bass to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
- Democrat/Independent Senators voting in favor: Fetterman, Kaine, King (I), Reed, Rosen, and Shaheen.
- Republican Senator Collins vote No.
- Senators not voting: Booker, Durbin, Hawley, Smith, Warnock, and Warren.
8:58 p.m. The Senate began a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #70 Keith Bass to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
8:58 p.m. Majority Leader Thune got unanimous consent that notwithstanding Rule 22, the Senate vote on motions to invoke cloture on Calendar 70, 574, and 476. If cloture is invoked on any of the nominations, the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nominations, and the Simmons nomination to be General Counsel of the CIA, at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader in consultation with the Democratic Leader no earlier than January 5th, 2026.
8:57 p.m. By a vote of 53-43, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Joshua Simmons to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency. This was a party-line vote with Senators Booker, Durbin, Smith, and Warren not voting.
8:26 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Joshua Simmons to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency.
8:24 p.m. By a vote of 53-43, the Senate confirmed the en bloc nominations listed pursuant to S.Res.532. This was a party-line vote with Senators Booker, Durbin, Smith, and Warren not voting.
7:43 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the en bloc nominations listed pursuant to S.Res.532.
7:43 p.m. The following were passed/agreed to by unanimous consent:
- S. Res. 321-Commemorating 30 years of Diplomatic Relations with Vietnam
- S. Res. 571-Remembering the December 6, 2019 terrorist attack at Air Station Pensacola
- S. Res. 572-honoring the service and sacrifice of William Nathaniel Howard and Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar
- H.R. 4323-Trafficking Survivors Relief Act
- S. 1383-establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access
- S. 1204-Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act
- H.R. 4446-FAST VETS Act
- H.R. 1823-direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Comptroller of the US to file a report on funding shortfalls of Veterans Affairs.
- S. 787-VetPAC Act of 2025
- S. 607-Improving Veteran Access to Care Act
1:42 p.m. Senator Moran paid tribute to Charlie Shoemaker.
1:13 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about Senate accomplishments.
1:10 p.m. By a vote of 50-50 the Senate did not agree to S. J. Res. 82, a joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to “Policy on Adhering to the Text of the Administrative Procedure Act”. Republican Senators voting aye: Collins, Murkowski, and Tillis.
12:18 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote of S. J. Res. 82, a joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to “Policy on Adhering to the Text of the Administrative Procedure Act”.
11:56 a.m. Senator Shaheen spoke on Nvidia chips and the war in Ukraine. She then asked unanimous consent that the Senate pass S. 2918; Senator Paul spoke against the bill. She then spoke on Russia and China, and asked that the Senate pass S. 2657 with the committee substitute amendment; Senator Paul
11:48 a.m. Senator Kaine spoke on Nvidia chips.
11:45 a.m. Senator Coons paid tribute to Sgt. William Nathaniel “Nate” Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, and Sgt. Edgar Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines and a civilian interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat, of Michigan, three fallen national guardsmen.
11:25 a.m. Senator Justice spoke on Andrew Wolfe and recently-passed Sarah Beckstrom, national guardsmen from West Virginia. He then asked unanimous consent for the Senate to pass S.858 with the Justice substitute amendment; Senator Padilla spoke against the procedure of the bill. Senator Padilla then asked unanimous consent for Senator Justice to modify his request; Senator Justice objected. Senator Padilla then objected to the original request.
11:12 a.m. Senator Ernst spoke on the National Guard.
11:04 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on the Trump administration.
10:55 a.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on President Trump.
10:42 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke on the Trump administration and the FCC.
10:14 a.m. Majority Leader Thune spoke on Senate GOP accomplishments including tax cuts, judicial nominations and appropriations bills.
10:02 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke on oversight.
10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.
***
The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. With time for the two leaders reserved for their use later in the day, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and resume consideration of the en bloc nominations provided for under the provisions of S. Res. 532. All time during recess, adjournment, morning business, and leader remarks will count towards post-cloture.
At approximately 12:00 noon – 1 roll call vote:
- Passage of S. J. Res. 82, a joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to “Policy on Adhering to the Text of the Administrative Procedure Act”.
Additional roll call votes are expected.
A few reminders:
Cloture has been filed on the following:
• Joshua Simmons to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency. (On December 15th)
• Keith Bass to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense. (on December 15th)
• Alexander C. Van Hook to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana. (On December 15th)
• Sara Bailey to be Director of National Drug Control Policy. (on December 15th)
Notwithstanding the provisions of the Congressional Review Act, the following CRA’s will remain in status quo through January 16th, 2026:
• A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Air Plan Approval; South Dakota; Regional Haze Plan for the Second Implementation Period”. (S.J.Res.86)
• A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services relating to “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Market Integrity and Affordability”. (S.J.Res.84)
